Blessing in disguise.........or disguised as a blessing?

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions since my husband got his transplant. In the beginning we both were happy and hopeful for the future. Afterwards there were ups and downs with his emotions (due to being on steroid based medication). The kidney was finally working full force and we figured the worst was over.......we made it! WRONG!

He rushed the doctors to send him home and was shocked to find out he would be attached to both a catheter and wound drainage tube. There were many nights of discomfort for him and I felt helpless. I wanted to help him but didn't know how other than trying to wait on him hand and foot and giving him sponge baths. I began sleeping in the living room because of his night terrors (probably mostly due to the pain medications) and the stench. The smell began to get stronger and overwhelmed me so I knew something had to be wrong. We later found out his wound was infected so he returned to the hospital for a few more days to have it treated.

I was relieved and he seemed content. NOW the worst is over. He arrived at home a few days later with a wound vac. This will be much better and a nurse will be visiting 3 times a week. This was what I percieved to be the perfect plan. Better care for him, less work for me, we both win. The nurse was nice and kept her appointments. He was told he would need the vac for 2 weeks.....well 2 weeks has turned into almost 7 and the smell is horrible. I am happy it is removing the bacteria from his body and believe this will be a small price to pay for his optimal health.

Something worth having takes a lot of work. I have learned this is not just a saying, but a fact of life. He now has his kidney and it's just a waiting game. I look forward to them freeing him from his vacuum pack and seeing the happiness in his eyes again. I can't wait for him to be able to take a Sunday stroll and watch the children playing at the park together. Most of all I look forward to being able to sleep in the same bed again...........together.

So no, I don't believe this is disguised as a blessing. It's a blessing in disguise that will make our bond stronger.